May Is Lyme Disease Awareness Month: Here Are 5 Things You Can Do to Raise Awareness

For many people, May means warming temperatures and the anticipation of the coming summer (and a break from school). However, May also marks a significant time for those of us whose lives have been affected by Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections: Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

Lyme patients often face challenges in obtaining a proper diagnosis due to a lack of awareness, outdated viewpoints, and a lack of sensitive tests. Delays in diagnosis often lead to disseminated, difficult-to-treat, or chronic infection. Chronic or late-stage Lyme disease patients report delays of 6 months to 5 years or more, with some studies citing an average of 1 to 2 years. Factors include misdiagnosis (e.g., as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or psychiatric conditions), nonspecific symptoms, and limitations in testing accuracy (e.g., false negatives in serologic tests). A 2018 survey by LymeDisease.org found that 60% of patients took over 2 years to receive a correct diagnosis.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month is a great opportunity for advocates, patients, and friends and family to raise awareness about how just one tick bite can change your life forever. Your advocacy can save a life or vastly improve a friend or loved one’s quality of life. Interested in getting involved? Take a look at our list of five easy ways to raise awareness for some ideas.

1. Educate Others.

Out of the ashes of adversity, we rise not just for ourselves, but to guide others towards the light. Help us to educate others by connecting with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and TikTok) and sharing posts. We will be publishing informative posts and videos throughout the month covering everything from what to do if you get a tick bite to best practices in tick-borne disease testing and treatment, as well as patient stories. Sharing posts with your network is a simple way to spread awareness that can have a big impact.

Do you have a medical care provider who is interested in learning more about Lyme disease and related infections? The 26th Annual ILADS Scientific Conference will be held October 9-12, 2025, in San Antonio, TX. Project Lyme is proud to support ILADS by providing grants to first-time attendees.

2. Set Up a Lyme Fundraiser.

Whether it’s for Lyme Disease Awareness Month, in honor of your birthday, or another special event, if you have a Facebook profile, fundraising for a cause just takes a few simple steps. Click on the “Fundraisers” button located in the left-hand menu of your main Facebook page to get started. Then click the “select nonprofit” button and follow the prompts to create your fundraiser. And remember, when you raise money for Project Lyme, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, you are making our mission to spread awareness, fund research, advocate, and support our community possible.

You can also support our important work by making a donation directly on our website.

3. Urge Congress to Protect and Grow Federal Funding for Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Programs.

A recently leaked FY2026 budget from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shows that the federal government may cut programs that help the United States prevent, detect, and respond to Lyme and tick-borne diseases. Although budget passbacks are a routine part of the Executive Branch’s annual budgeting process and usually remain confidential, these proposed cuts put millions of Americans at risk—including vulnerable children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Lyme and tick-borne diseases still lack reliable diagnostics, affordable therapies, and a cure. Now is the time to speak up.

Our advocacy partner, the Center for Lyme Action, has developed a quick, easy, customizable form to urge Congress to adopt their recommended funding levels for Lyme and tick-borne disease research in the FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Share this campaign with your network to help maximize impact

4. Shop and Support.

Looking for a comfortable t-shirt, tank, hoodie, or a new coffee mug? Check out Project Lyme’s online shop and get your Lyme disease awareness gear today.

5. Share Your Story.

Opening up about your experiences not only raises awareness about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases; it also serves as critical testimony that Lyme can persist and cause devastating symptoms. Want your story featured across our social media? Reach out to us through our website today!